Using Academic Research to Make Sense of the News Cycle

How can a podcast use academic research to help us make sense of today’s news?

Neil and Jen talk with Gemma Ware, head of audio at The Conversation UK and host/co-producer of The Conversation Weekly, about how the show brings academic expertise into the news cycle through narrative-produced audio. Gemma shares how The Conversation pairs academic rigour with journalistic flair, helping researchers explain complex ideas in a way that’s clear, accessible, and useful for a general audience.

The conversation also digs into the craft behind the show: structuring episodes around the question “How did we get here?”, working with academics on mic, sustaining a weekly production schedule, and thinking strategically about multimedia, video, and discoverability. It’s a thoughtful look at how higher ed podcasters can translate expertise into stories that help listeners better understand the world around them.

Episode Links:

• The Conversation Weekly
• The Conversation
• Gemma Ware Profile

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Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:59) - What is The Conversation?
• (04:45) - The Editing Process
• (06:07) - From The Anthill to The Conversation Weekly
• (10:08) - The “How did we get here?” structure
• (12:21) - Turning current affairs into academic storytelling
• (14:12) - Sustaining a weekly podcast
• (15:37) - Helping academics communicate clearly
• (18:58) - Building a global audio network
• (21:12) - Podcasting, multimedia, and discoverability
• (27:19) - Leaning into niche expertise
• (29:56) - How long should the story be?
• (30:45) - Closing reflections
• (31:33) - Conclusion